About hearing loss
In some cases, hearing loss may simply be because your ears
become blocked with wax or some other obstruction, or it may be
that your hearing is genuinely deteriorating.
There are many causes of hearing problems but, for most people,
it's simply age related and just something we have to accept as
part of getting older. Over 9 million people in the UK alone have
hearing problems and over half of people aged over 60 now have some
degree of hearing loss.
The most common type of hearing loss is known as 'Presbycusis'
and is a result of a gradual deterioration of the tiny sensory hair
cells in the inner ear. This deterioration can occur over many
years which means people don't generally notice the degradation of
their hearing for some time.
Other causes of hearing loss include illness, injury, some
medications and exposure to noise that is too loud or lasts for too
long. For many people, exposure to machinery and vehicles over a
number of years is a major contributory factor but, for all of us,
the World is an increasingly noisy place. With things like power
tools, MP3 players, music concerts and powerful stereos becoming
more commonplace we are identifying hearing problems in younger
people than ever before.
Conductive hearing loss
occurs when sound doesn't move as it should through the eardrum,
the ear canal or the three bones of the inner ear. It can be caused
by earwax, a punctured eardrum, fluid in the ear, a genetic defect
or an infection. The result is a sensation as though your ears are
plugged.
Sensorineural hearing loss
is the most common type of hearing loss and is caused by the
deterioration of the sensory hair cells in the inner ear.
Sensioneural hearing loss can be a byproduct of aging, or it can
occur due to infections, genes, head trauma or exposure to loud
noise. This is the type of hearing loss that where a hearing aid
can really help.
If you suspect you may be experiencing hearing loss we recommend
you get your hearing tested. Simply call our Customer Care Team on
0845 072 0870 to
book an appointment or request an appointment online.
